.32 H&R Magnum Consigned to the Dustbin of History?

[SeldomSeen]

I have tried to trade my S&W .32 mag revolver at several gun stores. When I show it to them their reaction is the same as if I offered them a ten day free trial with a cold or flu. It is also a bit of a challenge finding good ammo for this caliber. What is going on?

[mmitch]

seldom,

Welcome, and I would opine the .327 magnum happened and stole whatever thunder there was to be had!

Mike

[DocZeus]

What model S&W is it, SeldomSeen? There's MORE than a few around HERE that wouldn't mind having a .32 Mag in their stable.

.32 H&R Magnum ammo isn't commonly-available these days, but reloaders LOVE that round, IF they can find the bullets, that is.

We like PICTURES.

DocZeus
AKA
David

[azmick]

The 32 H&R Magnum was pretty much doomed from the start, limited to what an H&R revolver was comfortable handling. I could see the 327 Federal heading in that direction but Ruger fixed that with a proper revolver (two really) chambered in the round.
A straight wall case for a revolver putting up numbers like a 32-20 has alot of people looking.

[SeldomSeen]

432pd.jpg

It's a model 432PD. I have shot about eighty round out of it. My problem is that arthritis in my thumbs has narrowed my enjoyment of handguns to light cowboy action loads and .22lr. The recoil in this little gun is substantial especially with Federal Personal Defense ammo.

Thanks for the welcome and I sincerely mean that.

[banger]

SS, why don't you start loading your own ? ? There is a multitude of different brass cases that you can shoot in the 32, and 500 Magtech 71 grain RNMJ's aren't all that expensive, and a jug of Bullseye or Trail Boss will last a long time, and you can "adjust" the recoil with your loads to allow you to enjoy the gun . . .

[Waidmann]

SS, not to be flip but it's the marketplace. Taking a note from Banger, I reload a few of the seldom seens. That being said your original post speaks to unloading not continually operating a .32 H&R. (I own a Single Six only because of a hard luck story that included a low price and three boxes of factory loads.) This tale is a recurring one, 9mm Rimmed Federal, .41 AE, .357 Maximum. Priced a box of .38 WCF, .41 RF, .41 Colt or .38 Short Colt lately?

Its almost like the NFL established players drift into obscurity; low draft picks don't materialize. Given the aforementioned .327 Federal, which I predict will follow the same path, its not going to reverse.

If you really think its time to divest I suggest the auction sites. I don't think its going to get better and with that much exposure someone out there wants a 6 shot J-frame. Its time to punt.

[timetripper]

Just a thought here, is it possible to shoot .32 S&W long out of it? I really don't know but if it can be done that should make for a lot less recoil. But I'm with banger on the reloading idea. It's the best way to reduce shooting cost (as well as recoil) and to increase accuracy with any firearm.
John

[SeldomSeen]

The football analogy was great. If a really nice late model 16 for a reasonable price (fat chance that) found it's way to the safe, getting the Lee carbide dies for my Lyman T-mag would be in order. I even kept the fired brass and Starline makes new ones. I have fired .32 S&W longs in it and they have considerably less recoil. This gun will also function with the even shorter .32 S&W and .32acp. The .32acps are just a tad more powerful than the longs.

It only makes sense to use the Federal Personal Defense HPs for self defense as this six-gun was intended for just that purpose. A target gun it ain't. The .32 S&W started out as a black powder round once upon a time. It held about six grains of FFFg if a real fat person sat on the seating die lever. By comparison, my standard BP .44-40 rifle loads have 26 grains of FFg.. One can only pray for a stiff breeze.

[1 old 0311]

Could it be re-bored to a .38 special? Frame and cylinder are the same.